Pawn shops turning high-class with online stores

Passwords composed of a series of numbers are some of the easiest to steal. (Thinkstock)

WASHINGTON – Pawn shops have gone mainstream, but it’s not just for the down and out anymore.

After an industry makeover, pawn shops are gaining notoriety. Reality TV has taken an interest with shows like the History Channel’s Pawn Stars. But now another chapter in the the story of pawning has started.

MSN reports that even the well-off are using online pawn shops since they don’t need money fast, but still want a large loan to help with cash flow. With these types of pawn shops, sellers don’t get paid as quickly as with a brick and mortar shops. But when an item is sent by mail, the money usually comes within 24 hours.